Matthew Bourne’s Christmas Special

Posted on November 7, 2011

Channel 4 has commissioned a new dance film with the choreographer Matthew Bourne, to be broadcast this Christmas.

Conceived by Bourne and directed by the award-winning Ross MacGibbon, Bourne’s longstanding film collaborator, the new film brings together graphics, animation and 360 degree studio shooting, in a distinctive new way of presenting dance on screen. The film will be a journey through a series of worlds where stories are told through dance. Those who know Bourne’s stage work will recognise extracts from many of his biggest hits.

Over Christmas, Channel 4 and More4 will showcase a number of dance films, including a new film from the Balletboyz, following the creation of their new young male dance company The Talent. There will also be another chance to see Bourne’s Nutcracker! and several short dance films in the new late-night arts strand, “Random Acts”.

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.